Lilyhammer producers working on remakes and spoofs

Norwegian indie producer Anders Tangen has a lot in the works – he’s producing a US remake of Dag in Hollywood and the Norwegian comedy series Vikingane, commissioned by Norwegian pubcaster NRK.

Dag is a Norwegian comedy series about a marriage counsellor who thinks people should live in solitude. He hates spending time with other people, except for his friend Benedict, who is struggling to be faithful in his own relationship. Dag’s life changes when his sister forces him to go on a blind date with her old childhood friend, Eva. The series was hugely popular on TV2 and is nominated for five Gullruten (Norwegian television awards) this year – including Best TV Drama.

The remake of Dag will be written by Karlsen together with US writer Ric Swartzlander. It is currently casting in the US with well known actors, and will soon be pitched to US broadcasters, including Netflix – known for co-producing Lilyhammer seasons two and three.

Karlsen is also producing the Norwegian comedy series Vikingane, pitched as Monty Python meets Game of Thrones. Written and directed by newcomers Jon Iver Helgaker and Jonas Torgersen, the series is currently filming in Rogaland with some of Lilyhammer talents including Trond Fausa Aurvåg, Marian Saastad Ottesen, Nils Jørgen Kaalstad and Silje Torp.

Set in 790AD, Vikingane features the daily challenges of people living in a small Viking village, from power struggle, brother rivalry, gender equality, to betrayal and friendship. Tangen is waiting to have 1-2 episodes ready in both languages to start pitching the show to world distributors. NRK will air Vikingane in October 2016 and has already ordered a second season for the fall 2017.